SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In response to the release of police body camera footage showing the killing of Tyre Nichols at the hands of five Memphis officers, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) released the following statement:

“The release of police body camera footage makes clear what we already knew: the murder of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols was brutal and unjustified. Our deepest condolences are with his family and all those who knew and loved him. The police officers who beat this young man to death have no place in law enforcement, and were rightly dismissed. Still, this is not enough. These officers callously and viciously killed another human being and Mr. Nichols’ family deserves justice.

“For the people who are angry, for the people who are sick of living in fear, we will always stand with you in the fight for justice. We are proud of the steps we’ve taken in Illinois, including passing major criminal justice reforms as part of our four-pillar agenda two years ago, but there is still much more work to do.”

CHICAGO — State Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, D-Chicago, will continue to push for innovative policy regarding technology in his role as chair of the House Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, and IT Committee.

“As our dependency on technology steadily increases, it is essential that lawmakers provide substantive policy solutions to the problems we face in the sphere of cybersecurity, data analytics and information technology,” Robinson said. “From investing in cybersecurity education to diversifying the industry and protecting personal data, our committee has abundant opportunities to support the cybersecurity, data analytics and information technology industry, protect Illinoisans, and improve our technological infrastructure.”

Robinson will use the knowledge and experience he gained as chair of the 102nd General Assembly’s House Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, and IT Committee to further modernize and improve Illinois’ cybersecurity response. He previously spearheaded efforts to invest in cybersecurity education (House Bill 5661), update old language in state laws to reflect modern technology issues (House Bill 5164), and improve Illinois’ response to cyber threats (House Bill 5165) in the last General Assembly.

“Though Illinois has made tremendous progress in modernizing our cyber response and supporting the data analytics and information technology fields, there is still much work to be done,” Robinson said. “I thank Speaker Welch for appointing me to such a significant position and I am eager to collaborate with my colleagues to produce meaningful change that will benefit all Illinoisans.”

CHICAGO – Families will see relief through direct payments and tax relief under a budget package supported by state Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, D-Chicago.

“We know that families are struggling, and they’re looking to Springfield for help,” Robinson said. “It was critical that this budget not only supported critical community services – including public safety and education – but also helps families dealing with inflation and the effects of the pandemic.”

Under the Robinson-supported budget package, families can expect to see relief through:

• Direct checks to working families – at $50 per individual and $100 per child (up to three children per family; income limit of $200,000 per individual, $400,000 per joint filer);
• Suspension of the tax on groceries for one year;
• A six month freeze of motor fuel taxes;
• Doubling of property tax rebates (up to $300 per household); and
• A permanent expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit.

The spending plan also includes nearly half a billion in investment toward public safety programs and law enforcement, including $48 million directed toward efforts to stop carjacking and its underlying causes. Additionally, an increase of more than $350 million is being directed toward schools as part of the evidence-based funding formula.

“If we want to effectively address crime in our community, we have to invest in programs that target the root causes of violence,” Robinson said. “This budget package reflects the need to address public safety comprehensively, and of the need to prioritize our youth. Investing more in our classrooms and youth intervention programs will help our children succeed and keep them on a path for success.”

The Robinson-backed budget also included increases in the Child Care Assistance Program, as well as $130 million for legal assistance for those under threat of eviction as a result of COVID-19. An additional $225 million in ARPA funding will be set aside for the Illinois Housing Development Authority to provide grants, forgivable loans and other expenses associated with affordable housing development programs.

For more information, please contact Lamont@LamontJRobinson.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Opportunities for women and minorities in information technology (IT) will be the subject of a House hearing Thursday morning to be chaired by state Rep. Lamont Robinson, D-Chicago.

“There’s a lot of high-paying, in-demand career opportunities in the information technology field, and it’s important that no demographics are being left behind,” Robinson said. “I’m looking forward to hearing about the current state of diversity of the industry here in Illinois, and what we can do to expand opportunities for those who want to take part.”

Robinson will chair a virtual House Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, and IT Committee hearing Thursday, March 31 at 10 a.m. to discuss the state of women and minorities in IT. Expected speakers include representatives from TeQuity Partners, Technet and the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT).

Viewers can watch a livestream of the committee at https://ilga.gov/houseaudvid.asp.

As part of efforts to support higher education aimed at cybersecurity, Robinson introduced a plan (House Bill 5561) to commit $100,000 toward the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp program. He is also partnering with DoIT to update old language in state laws to better reflect modern technology issues (HB 5164) and improve the state’s response to cyber threats (House Bill 5165).

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) is celebrating the signing of the Illinois Health Care and Human Service Reform Act, a historic measure to address the systemic racial inequalities within the state’s health care system, into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic devastated communities across America, it caused particular harm to families and neighborhoods that have faced decades of disinvestment and lack of opportunity due to systemic racism. To address systemic racism in Illinois, the Black Caucus identified four priority policy areas, including criminal justice, economic access, education, and health care. Today, measures addressing all four areas are now law,” ILBC Joint Caucus Chairperson state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, said. “These initiatives will address the inequities in access to comprehensive health care for our communities. I offer my thanks to Rep. Lilly and Sen. Hunter for taking the lead to pass these much needed health care reform measures, which will improve the quality of life for all residents statewide.”

“The systems that bind and neglect people of color must be addressed, and grasped at the root, creating equity through investment,” state Sen. Mattie Hunter, D-Chicago, said.  “The measures in this package reshape our state’s health care, leading with diversity, inclusion, and justice at the center.”

“This law helps protect hospital access for low-income communities devastated by the pandemic, helps build trust between patients and their doctors by requiring training for implicit bias, and puts the people in need of care first,” state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, said. “This law touches on a wide spectrum of issues that have proved problematic for too long. Black and Brown men, women, and children and low-income residents have held the burden of the health inequalities for generations, but today we took a step forward toward ensuring the quality health care that everyone deserves.”

“The Black community has experienced so much premature death at the hands of systemic racism,” state Sen. Patricia Van Pelt, D-Chicago, said.  “While this legislation won’t solve everything with the sign of a pen, I am confident that the measures in this bill will right the wrongs in our state healthcare system, giving Illinoisans of color increased opportunity to attain emotional and physical wellness.”

“People in the Black community have lost faith in Illinois’ health care system because of unequal access to care. Quality health is a necessity and should be available to everyone, regardless of race or income,” Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, D-Maywood, said. “The Black community’s health and our care has been devalued for far too long. With this law, we are taking the first steps to reshape the direction of our state’s health care, leading with diversity, inclusion, and justice at the center.”

“These reforms are critical to ensuring fair and equal access to health care for all Illinoisans, but particularly those who have been left behind by our health care system in the past because of their race or their income,” state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, Chairperson of the Illinois House Black Caucus, said. “I am extremely proud of the Black Caucus for doing the work necessary to create a better Illinois for all residents.”

House Bill 158 was signed into law today by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The signing of the law marks the enactment of all four pillars of the ILBC’s agenda to address systemic racism, developed in the summer and fall of 2020 through a series of hearings and working groups to combat bias and discrimination in criminal justice, economic opportunity, education, and health care.

HB 158 addresses the following aspects of health care and human services:

• Behavioral Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse
  • Increases payment rates for psychiatric treatment at hospitals serving primarily low-income patients.
  • Protects people on supervised release from corrections programs from being deemed in violation of their release guidelines if they seek assistance for someone experiencing a drug overdose.
  • Creates a consortium of universities and other stakeholders to develop and implement a strategic plan to recruit, educate and retain a diverse behavioral health workforce.
• Children’s Health and Women’s Health
  • Updates the state’s online Child Care Assistance Program Eligibility Calculator.
  • Provides funding to preserve and maintain OBGYN services at safety-net hospitals.
  • Creates the Special Commission on Gynecologic Cancers to determine best practices for early detection of gynecologic cancers and reducing disparities in treatment.
  • Expands coverage of doula services and home visiting services for pregnant women.
  • Requires training for daycare providers on early childhood trauma.
• Health Care Access and Improved Care
  • Lowers sales taxes for blood sugar testing materials used by people with diabetes.
  • Requires the state to develop a program to coordinate care between hospitals and health centers in order to manage chronic diseases and address the social determinants of health in order to improve care coordination.
  • Requires the state establish a grant program and annual study addressing prevention and treatment of Sickle Cell Disease.
  • Requires safety-net hospitals to report on health care disparities in communities they serve and requires the state Health Facilities and Services Review Board to include a member from a community impacted by the closure of health care facilities.
  • Institutes a moratorium on hospital closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Creates the Medicaid Managed Care Oversight Commission to review the state’s Medicaid managed care programs and produce annual reports addressing care coordination and access for patients.
  • Creates the Medicaid Business Opportunity Commission to develop programs to better utilize the services of businesses owned and operated by minorities, women and people with disabilities in Medicaid contracting.
  • Creates the Health and Human Services Task Force to study better integration and coordination of health care and human service programs to improve outcomes for families.
• Older Adults
  • Implements a new dementia training program including continuing education for senior care providers.
  • Expands allowances for people to use sick leave provided by an employer to take care of family members to include grandparents and in-laws.
• Public Health:
  • Creates a certification for Community Health Workers to act as a liaison between communities and health care and social service programs.
  • Requires the state to study ways to identify high-violence communities and coordinate the prioritization of funding and programs to address underlying causes of violence more easily.
• Racism and Implicit Bias
  • Requires health care professionals to complete implicit bias training.
  • Creates the Anti-Racism Commission to study and recommend further policies to eliminate systemic racism.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget address, state Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, D-Chicago, issued the following statement:

“Today’s address marks the beginning of a new budget process and the opportunity to once again come together to pass a bipartisan, balanced spending plan that provides funding for needed resources while addressing the financial challenges we face.

“We must remain committed to working with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass a budget that expands access to early childhood education, makes child care more affordable for working families, funds new job training programs and allows for a fairer criminal justice system that invests in our underserved communities. We must also ensure funding for the health care and senior services our residents need, and work together to fulfill our pension obligations, pay down our backlog of bills and provide real property tax relief for homeowners.

“There is more work to be done and difficult decisions to be made in order to continue the progress we’ve made. I look forward to working together to pass a balanced budget that reflects our shared values and builds a stronger Illinois.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, D-Chicago, issued the following statement after Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State address on Wednesday:

“The State of the State address provides an opportunity for legislators to reflect on the progress we have made and the need to continue our efforts to build a stronger Illinois.

“Last year, we passed a bipartisan, balanced budget that pays down the state’s backlog of old bills while providing new dollars for our schools and funding for the services our community relies on, including breast and cervical cancer screenings, affordable housing and Meals on Wheels for seniors. We invested in job training that will help students learn the technical skills they need for high wage jobs that will help grow our economy.

“Together we worked to create an infrastructure plan that not only creates new jobs, but will fix the crumbling roads and bridges residents travel on everyday across Illinois. We took steps toward real property tax relief for those who need it most by creating a Property Tax Relief Fund that will provide rebates to homeowners.

“This year, we must come together again to make strides in creating a stronger state for our families. I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass meaningful reforms that ease the burden of taxes on middle-class families, address gun violence in our communities and continue to fund the resources we rely on most.”

CHICAGO – To preserve Illinois families’ access to affordable health care for children, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, recently supported legislation to extend the sunset date of the All Kids program.

“We must do all that we can to help hardworking families across Illinois provide a better life for their children, and that includes ensuring access to health care,” said Slaughter. “As a father, I know how challenging providing for a family is. Every little bit of help that we’re able to provide to our state’s families can truly make a difference.”

The Slaughter-backed House Bill 2894 extends the Oct. 1, 2019 sunset of the All Kids program to Oct. 1, 2024. Children currently enrolled in the All Kids program receive health insurance that covers doctor visits including regular check-ups and vaccinations, prescription drugs, vision care, dental care and even hospital stays. The program also covers specialized care, such as medical equipment or physical therapy. The measure to extend the sunset date was recently signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“With the cost of living on the rise, I am proud that Illinois is doing what it can to keep some money in the pockets of our most hardworking families,” said Slaughter. “I am grateful to work with a governor who understands the importance keeping our families healthy and financially stable.”

CHICAGO – To help provide needed property tax relief to homeowners, state Rep. Lamont J. Robinson, D-Chicago, was appointed to serve on the Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force on Friday.

“When I walk door to door, I often hear about the financial burden homeowners face as they struggle to afford skyrocketing property taxes,” Robinson said. “Families in our community cannot prosper if they are constantly held back by increasing property taxes. We must continue working toward a stronger Illinois, and that includes fairer taxes and direct property tax relief for hard-working homeowners.”

Robinson helped pass Senate Bill 1932 to create the Property Tax Relief Task Force, which will identify specific policy changes to provide short- and long-term property tax relief for homeowners. The task force will submit a report to the governor and General Assembly next year outlining suggested strategies and best practices to ease the burden of property taxes.

Robinson has been a consistent champion for property tax relief efforts since entering the General Assembly, and recently backed measures to expand access to exemptions for seniors and create an annual property tax rebate for homeowners. 

“Fighting for property tax relief is a key priority of mine, and serving on this task force will give me the opportunity to demand tax relief for local residents,” Robinson said. “I look forward to working on this task force to find comprehensive solutions to lower property taxes while ensuring funding for the resources families rely on, including education, libraries, parks and public safety.”